That’s Chris Hughton’s attitude as the new Championship campaign looms.

Hughton stepped up to become a manager in his own right at Newcastle United, and it’s a role he feels he’s cut out for.

During his 14-year-old spell at Spurs after his playing career had finished, Hughton was a coach or assistant manager, taking the caretaker reins on occasions.

But it’s the hot seat for him from now on, having had his appetite whetted in the North-east.

“I had opportunities to go back in as a number two,” he said, reflecting on his time out of the game after the Newcastle sacking. “But it wasn’t something that interested me. I enjoyed my time as a number one, I see myself very much as a number one.”

Hughton did wonder, however, if he would be overlooked.

Once you are off the managerial merry-go-round, it’s difficult to get back on.

“There were some opportunities for me. It’s trying to gauge it right. As everybody keeps telling you, you don’t have to take the first thing that comes your way. But the longer it gets, there’s a lot of good managers out there waiting to get back in.

“I think I was at least able to keep a profile and when jobs were available I was fortunate to be linked with them.

“What I did want to be was back in football before the season started and Birmingham City gave me that opportunity.”

Hughton certainly had to hit the ground running after replacing Alex McLeish.

Player sales, identifying new blood, organising the training and arranging the backroom staff have had to be juggled.

But he has not felt sorry for himself, nor lamented Blues predicament.

And Hughton doesn’t harbour any bitterness to Newcastle for the way he was axed last December.

“It’s the industry we are in at the moment,” he said. ‘‘It’s a business that has changed. It is very much high profile now. The ownership and leadership of clubs has changed, going back to many, many years ago when the clubs were very family-orientated.

“I think you have only got to look at what the Premier League means to world football. And when you look at the Championship, which probably attracts the fourth highest attendances anywhere, that shows the changes, and the money involved.”

Money is something Blues are struggling for. Peter Pannu’s warning about ‘unpopular decisions’ that need to be taken heightened the gravity of their predicament.

Hughton, who said new players would be coming in, also has to nurture the younger players on the books.

Jordon Mutch appears set to play a big part this season, and Nathan Redmond has caught Hughton’s eye with a couple of brief cameo appearances in friendlies.

“Anybody in my position would want to push through good, talented players,” he said. “And I know what local lads mean to a football club.

“It’s up to me to assess the ones of that type of quality and who have the ability who are close to the first team.

“And if they are not close to the first team, it’s then to make sure that they are developing well under me within the structure, whether it be the Academy structure or going into the development/reserve team group.

“And some of them might be a few years away. But as a club, what we have got to make sure is that we have a strong structure in place that allows good quality young players to come through.”

Blues begin their Championship season at Derby County on Saturday.

Hughton said he expected every player to be relishing the task at Pride Park, and beyond.

“There are so many aspects to this job ... some of the challenges for other clubs could be completely different. What you have got to be is up for that challenge.”